Australian Olympic rugby gold medal victor Charlotte Caslick has taken aim at hockey legend Ric Charlesworth for his description of the Pearls’ women’s sevens victory in Rio de Janeiro as “soft”.
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New Zealand’s Sam Dickson (L) tackles Fiji’s Vatemo Ravouvou (2nd L) as New Zealand’s D J Forbes reaches for the ball in the men’s rugby sevens quarter-final match between Fiji and New Zealand during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 10, 2016.
In the other quarters, France play Japan, Argentina meet Great Britain and Australia play South Africa.
The 27-year-old New Zealand-born Tongan is part of the Japanese team streaking towards an Olympic medal in Rio. Joe Weber was also ruled out with a shoulder injury. “For that (injury) to happen in the first game of the tournament is devastating”.
“Sonny Bill’s a great professional, he’s very infectious, he certainly helps the younger players and has a great work ethic”.
Kolinisau rounded off a superb length-of-the-pitch move to get the scoreboard ticking for the double defending Sevens Series champions.
Teammate Heather Fisher added: “I just feel empty”.
“We thought that if we kept running right to the end, we would win”, Goto said.
“But that’s sevens rugby, the gap has closed considerably and if you’re not up for it on the day, you’ll be beaten”.
No. 2-ranked South Africa had a more conventional run, and overturning an earlier loss to Australia in a 22-5 quarterfinal win to set up a semifinal match against Britain, which needed a try in golden-point extra time from Dan Bibby to edge Argentina 5-0. “We’re No. 1 in the world, we’re not trying to be arrogant, we’re saying this is what we want”.
“We’ve just got to get on with it”, said Tietjens. The rollercoaster of sevens goes up and goes down, and so hopefully we can rest up nicely ahead of tomorrow.
The 12-time World Series winners and defending world champions are among the favourites to win gold in Brazil, but endured a far-from-ideal start, losing 14-12 to Japan at Deodoro Stadium.
A late lineout turnover offered the Kiwis one last chance of a reprieve; however Japan held on for their epic second victory in 12 months.
Ioane crossed for New Zealand’s second but Kameli Soejima scrambled over to draw the scores level, Katsuyuki Sakai’s conversion pulling the Japanese two points clear for a famous win.
World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: “We have seen rugby sevens played at its dramatic, competitive and compelling best throughout these Olympic Games competitions and today’s action continued to deliver stunning and absorbing rugby”.
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Fiji and New Zealand had been hoping to play off for the gold medal in rugby’s return to the Olympics. It shows how ruthless sevens is.
